The search is now underway for the next chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods. Monday, current CEO Gary Rodkin announced his plan to retire from the company in 2015.

The board of directors has created a search committee for the next CEO, led by independent director Richard Lenny. Lenny is the CEO of The Hershey Company.

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Rodkin, 62, was head of the Omaha-based food giant since taking the job in October 2005. He joined the food conglomerate from the Pepsi company.

His retirement will take effect at the end of the company's fiscal year in May 2015.

Rodkin presided over what Steven Goldstone, ConAgra board chair, called a transformation of the company from a holding group to a single, unified brand.

"It is a great privilege to lead ConAgra Foods, and while I look forward to retirement, I will miss working alongside so many smart and talented people who I’ve watched grow tremendously in my nine years here," Rodkin said in a statement. "I’m pleased we are beginning my last fiscal year at ConAgra Foods by making good progress, and I have deep conviction that we are on the right path to deliver sustainable, profitable growth due to our significantly improved operational capabilities and our differentiated portfolio that is right for today’s value-oriented consumers."

Rodkin's tenure saw multi-billion dollar acquisitions for the company, but it's faltered in profit growth over the past several years. Year-to-date, ConAgra's shares are down about 8 percent. It closed up about one and a half percent at the end of trading Monday.

ConAgra -- a Fortune 500 company -- employs 34,000 worldwide. Roughly 3,400 of those employees are in the Omaha metro area. The packaged food company, has dozens of brands including Chef Boyardee, Peter Pan and Orville Redenbacher's.